By The Tobacco Road Scribe
Charlotte, NC – Jarin Stevenson is preparing to become a more versatile player and a more vocal leader for North Carolina, embracing new coach Michael Malone’s defense-first approach while helping a largely rebuilt roster learn what he considers the essentials of Carolina basketball: toughness, extra work and accountability.
Speaking at ACC Tipoff on Oct. 7, the former Seaforth High School standout described a program undergoing substantial change, from the structure of practices to the responsibilities players carry at both ends of the floor. For Stevenson, the transition offers a chance to sharpen his shooting, defend multiple positions and pursue his NBA ambitions close to the family and friends who have supported him.
“I wanted to push myself, make myself uncomfortable,” Stevenson said of attending the conference’s annual media gathering and accepting a larger leadership role.
His remarks came ahead of UNC’s Oct. 9 exhibition against Southern California in Greensboro, the first public game opportunity to evaluate how Malone’s methods translate beyond the practice court. Stevenson’s account offered an early picture of a team trying to connect professional basketball concepts with a college program’s established identity.
A familiar face in a changing program
Stevenson occupies an unusual place on this Carolina team. He is a returning player with local roots, but he is also adapting to a new coach, new teammates and new expectations.
UNC’s official preseason preview identifies him as the team’s lone returning starter. The Tar Heels bring back five lettermen and welcome 11 newcomers after finishing 24-9 last season. That turnover makes Stevenson’s knowledge of the program particularly valuable, even as he learns alongside the arrivals.
The 6-foot-10 senior played his first two college seasons at Alabama before transferring to North Carolina. Last season, he averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds, both career highs, and started 25 games. His production increased late in the season: Over his final 10 games, he averaged 10.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 51.4% from the field.
Those figures provide a useful starting point for assessing his next step. Stevenson enters the season with experience handling meaningful minutes, but his stated ambitions extend beyond repeating last year’s contributions.
He wants greater consistency and confidence. The coaching staff wants him to communicate more and help others meet expectations.
“I’m more of a laid-back, reserved type of guy,” he said. “Coach Malone and the coaching staff have pushed me to become more of a leader.”
The challenge is to carry that responsibility while developing his own game, rather than treating leadership as something reserved for the roster’s most outgoing personalities.
Why he stayed at Carolina
When asked why he returned, Stevenson repeatedly organized his answer around three factors: Malone’s NBA experience, the Carolina basketball community and his personal support system.
The first addressed his professional aspirations. Stevenson said Malone explained how he intended to use him and how the new system could support his development.
The second concerned a longer relationship with the program. Stevenson values former players returning to teach and wants to remain part of that community after his playing career at UNC ends.
The third was more immediate. His family and friends are nearby, offering support that extends beyond basketball.
The coaching change did create uncertainty. Stevenson said he had always wanted to return, but there was a period when he did not know who would lead the team or what his place would be.
A conversation with Malone helped resolve those questions. Stevenson recalled the coach discussing different ways to deploy him and expressing enthusiasm about the possibility of his return.
“Off the bat, I knew pretty much that I wanted to come back,” Stevenson said. “Then Coach Malone also just helped seal the deal.”
He also spoke warmly about former coach Hubert Davis, who recruited him during high school and again through the transfer process. Stevenson said they still have a relationship.
His comments reflected the personal consequences of roster turnover. Seeing teammates leave was difficult, he said, and he tries to maintain those friendships while building connections with the new arrivals.
Defense sets the practice standard
The clearest recurring theme in Stevenson’s breakout discussions was defense.
He described Malone as unusually focused on that end of the court, with practice competitions designed to reward stops and reinforce the need to complete possessions.
“I don’t think I’ve been coached by somebody as defensive-minded as him,” Stevenson said.
According to Stevenson, defensive work occupies a substantial portion of practice. Some drills are decided by which group records the most stops. Mistakes can bring a quick change of personnel, with another team taking the floor.
The scoring system also penalizes errors, including turnovers and failures involving offensive rebounds. Stevenson emphasized the larger lesson: A defensive possession does not end with a missed shot.
Malone wants the rebound secured.
That distinction is significant for a team hoping to play quickly. A successful contest followed by an opponent’s offensive rebound leaves the defense working again. A completed stop creates the opportunity to advance the ball.
Stevenson also described work on transition defense and multiple defensive situations, suggesting preparation extends beyond guarding in a settled half-court alignment.
His account does not establish how effective UNC will be once games begin. It does identify what the staff is measuring and rewarding before the season.
For Stevenson, the standards are clear enough that he can enter practice knowing the objectives. The defense must communicate, execute its assignments and finish the possession, with the competitive format making lapses visible to teammates as well as coaches.
NBA experience becomes a daily routine
Malone’s professional background helped persuade Stevenson to stay, but the forward described its influence chiefly through practice organization and basketball instruction.
UNC hired Malone on April 7. He led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship and spent 24 years coaching in the league, including head coaching stops in Sacramento and Denver. He also worked in college basketball before entering the NBA.
Stevenson said practices generally begin with player development, move into defensive segments and conclude with competitive work, including five-on-five play and closeout situations.
He likes the predictability of that sequence. It allows players to identify specific improvement goals while knowing competition will follow.
The professional influence also appears in spacing and the range of assignments players receive. Stevenson said he has been learning NBA concepts and becoming more comfortable with the space available in the offense.
“I feel like there’s a lot more space this year,” he said. “So, I’m excited for that.”
Asked whether Malone often invokes the famous NBA players he has coached, Stevenson said the coach generally keeps his attention on the current team and how to use its players.
That answer placed the emphasis on application. For Stevenson, the attraction is the opportunity to learn habits and concepts he associates with the next level.
He did not suggest that working with an NBA championship coach guarantees a professional career. His comments instead described a development process: understanding new concepts, executing them repeatedly and becoming comfortable in varied situations.
Becoming a connector
Malone’s description of players as “connectors” prompted Stevenson to explain how he understands the term.
“We work together as one,” he said. “We connect with each other.”
His example was guard Neo Avdalas, whose penetration can draw multiple defenders and create openings for teammates. Stevenson praised Avdalas’ ability to get others open while retaining the option to create his own shot.
In that context, a connector helps the next action happen. A drive draws help, a pass reaches an available teammate, and that teammate decides whether to shoot, attack or move the ball again.
Stevenson sees himself as part of that sequence. He expects guards such as Avdalas and Terrence Brown to attract defensive attention and deliver passes that require him to make quick decisions.
The concept also extends to learning one another’s tendencies. Stevenson said playing together has helped him understand where teammates prefer to operate and where he can position himself to complement them.
Experience in practices and informal competition has been central to that process.
With so many newcomers, the relationships are still developing. Stevenson’s description suggests he measures chemistry through practical understanding: knowing a teammate’s style, anticipating an opening and recognizing how one player’s strengths can create opportunities for another.
That is also where his leadership responsibilities meet his on-court role. Helping teammates understand the offense and communicating during possessions are ways to connect the group without needing to dominate every conversation.
Footwork, shooting and attacking the closeout
Stevenson’s most specific personal development priorities involved shooting preparation and what happens after he catches the ball.
He said he spent the offseason working on footwork for catch-and-shoot opportunities, attacking closeouts and making shots from different positions.
The closeout is the moment a defender moves toward a shooter after a pass. Stevenson expects to encounter those situations when teammates draw extra defensive attention and move the ball to him.
His response must match the opening. He may have time to shoot, an opportunity to drive past an approaching defender or a reason to make another pass.
Stevenson also described preparing for shots that follow different screening actions. He wants reliable footwork whether he is coming off a screen or setting one before moving into another action.
“My personal focus was becoming more consistent,” he said.
That objective connects his mechanics with his projected role. Moving among positions can change where catches occur, how quickly a defender arrives and what decision is available.
His late-season progress last year provides evidence of increased production, but Stevenson framed the coming season around work still to be done. He specifically wants to improve his three-point percentage, make more plays and show greater aggression and confidence.
He credited teammates with helping build that confidence over the summer.
For early-season observers, the useful questions go beyond whether a particular shot falls. Stevenson’s preparation, decisiveness and ability to respond to defensive pressure will help show whether his offseason work is carrying into competition.
Versatility brings more assignments
Stevenson said he expects to play at the three, four and five – the small forward, power forward and center spots – at different times.
That does not mean every lineup will use him identically. It means he must learn responsibilities that change with the personnel around him.
He described the perimeter positions as interchangeable within the offense and said studying different spots in the playbook remains a challenge.
“Positionless basketball,” Stevenson said. “That’s what we’re going to.”
His experience last season offers some preparation. When a questioner referenced stretches without Caleb Wilson or Henri Veesaar, Stevenson said playing different frontcourt positions helped make him a better player.
The defensive demands are equally broad. Stevenson said switching onto players across the positional spectrum is a significant part of his game.
That requires containing smaller guards outside while also competing against larger players near the basket.
For a player his size, those assignments test more than length. They require movement, recognition, balance and an understanding of when to help or remain attached to an opponent.
Stevenson said Malone has emphasized both sides of that challenge: guarding quick players and battling inside.
The potential value is flexibility when matchups change or foul trouble affects a rotation. The immediate responsibility is learning enough to avoid confusion when the role changes.
His comments suggest versatility will be judged through execution. Being available for multiple positions matters most when he can perform the specific job each lineup requires.
A frontcourt with different strengths
Stevenson described the rebuilt frontcourt as a collection of contrasting skills.
Alex Samodurov, whom teammates call “Samo,” stood out in his account as a three-point shooter who makes sound decisions, rebounds and uses fakes around the basket.
Sayon Keita drew praise for protecting the rim and finishing lob passes. Stevenson repeatedly mentioned his ability to dunk during practices.
Cameron Fens impressed him with strength, interior scoring and unexpected explosiveness. Stevenson said Fens can quickly leave the floor again after a miss, creating a second opportunity before the defense fully recovers.
Maximo Adams, another frequent practice opponent, earned praise for his shooting and ability to jump again quickly.
UNC’s roster lists Samodurov at 6-foot-11, Keita at 7-foot-1, Fens at 7 feet and Adams at 6-foot-7. Their different profiles give context to Stevenson’s description of a frontcourt with multiple styles.
Fens’ availability remained an issue during the interview. A reporter raised his eligibility uncertainty, and Stevenson responded conditionally, discussing what the center could contribute if able to play.
He also acknowledged the alternative: Younger players would have to assume more responsibility if Fens remained unavailable.
Stevenson did not announce an eligibility decision. His remarks made clear that preparation must accommodate more than one possibility.
He said the younger players have competed well as their practice responsibilities increase. Their ability to handle those minutes, along with Stevenson’s flexibility, will be among the early matters to watch.
Leadership takes several forms
Stevenson did not portray himself as UNC’s only leader.
He described Brown as outgoing and comfortable expressing himself, traits that help him energize the group. On the court, Brown’s quickness and ability to finish in the paint can draw extra defenders and create passing opportunities.
Matt Able, who transferred from NC State, earned praise for both shooting and leadership.
Stevenson remembered Able making shots against Carolina last season and welcomed having that skill on his side. He said Able has also helped him develop as a leader.
Avdalas leads partly through organization. Stevenson described the point guard getting teammates in the right places and putting up extra shots after practice.
Angelo Brizzi contributes experience and competitiveness. Stevenson said Brizzi makes his displeasure known when his group is losing and tries to lift its performance.
Those descriptions reveal several routes to influence: energy, instruction, organization, work habits and competitive urgency.
Stevenson’s own approach combines example with deliberate communication. He said he works on making sure teammates are positioned correctly, holding people accountable and building relationships.
He sets daily goals for becoming more vocal and showing more of his personality.
That effort is especially relevant on a team with so many new players. Familiarity cannot be assumed, and quiet understanding may not be enough when teammates need an instruction during a possession.
Stevenson’s task is to make what he knows useful to others, even when speaking up takes conscious effort.
Seaforth roots and the Carolina connection
For Chatham County readers, Stevenson’s role carries a connection that reaches beyond UNC’s roster changes.
He attended Seaforth High School in Pittsboro, where his father, Jarod, coached him. Stevenson was North Carolina’s 2023 Gatorade Player of the Year and recorded averages of 21.8 points, 11.7 rebounds and 3.7 blocks in his final high school season.
His family’s Carolina history also predates his arrival. His mother, Nicole Walker Stevenson, played basketball at UNC from 1994 to 1998.
Asked to identify a favorite Carolina athlete from his childhood, Stevenson named his mother first. On the men’s side, he pointed to Michael Jordan, particularly his mentality and work ethic.
Stevenson said having North Carolina players represent the university creates pride and showcases the state’s basketball talent.
His former Seaforth classmates remain part of his support network. They talk with him about subjects beyond basketball, express excitement about his career and hope to attend games.
He said he tries to help them get tickets.
Those relationships help explain why his decision to return was about more than a coaching résumé or projected role. Playing at Carolina allows him to pursue professional goals while remaining near people who know him outside the sport.
His definition of the “Carolina way” was similarly practical. He emphasized toughness on offense and defense, along with the extra work players put into their development.
Those are the standards he said he tries to pass along.
Chemistry beyond the court
Stevenson also offered glimpses of a team getting acquainted outside basketball.
An offseason trip to the Outer Banks gave players time together at the pool and beach and opportunities to hear one another’s stories.
He plays NBA 2K with Avdalas. Asked about golfing with Able, Stevenson said golf is not something he regularly plays, although he has visited Topgolf.
These were modest details, but they illustrated the relationship-building that accompanies a roster overhaul.
Players are learning more than where a teammate wants a pass. They are learning personalities, backgrounds and ways to communicate.
Stevenson said he has taken part in recruiting visits, although Brown and Able have handled more of the social responsibilities. He described newcomers welcoming prospective players and helping them feel comfortable around the team.
He also credited Malone with becoming involved in the wider Carolina community and adjusting to recruiting.
The interview included a lighter exchange about food. Stevenson mentioned steak and barbecue sandwiches, identifying Smithfield’s and City Barbeque among places he likes.
He did not offer a favorite television series, saying he does not watch many shows.
The lighter questions were another opportunity for a self-described reserved player to speak publicly. They fit his broader effort to become more comfortable showing his personality while keeping his responsibilities as a teammate in view.
The first chance to test the preparation
UNC’s exhibition against Southern California is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro and will air on ACC Network. Exhibitions against Indiana on Oct. 18 and Charlotte on Oct. 27 follow before the Nov. 2 regular-season opener against Western Carolina.
The Greensboro appearance also gives the Tar Heels experience in the venue that will host the ACC men’s tournament March 9-13. Stevenson welcomed that opportunity while emphasizing the need to concentrate on one game at a time.
For him, the immediate goals are straightforward: demonstrate improved shooting, make more plays and compete with confidence.
For Carolina, the exhibition begins to test whether practice priorities are becoming team habits. Can the Tar Heels secure rebounds after stops, organize their transition defense and turn guard penetration into good decisions? Can Stevenson move among assignments while helping less experienced teammates?
An exhibition cannot settle every question about a new coach and rebuilt roster. It can provide the first evidence of progress.
Stevenson said he is excited for the Duke rivalry, but he resisted treating one matchup as the sole measure of his season.
“Every game, I feel like it’s something to prove,” he said.
That approach links his personal goals with the team’s larger task. The former Seaforth standout wants to become more consistent, more assertive and more useful across the floor. Carolina needs those improvements as it establishes its identity under Malone.